Ragnar Jónasson’s Dark Iceland series to be adapted for TV

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And so the interest in Nordic-based continues apace, with the news that Ragnar Jónasson’s Dark Iceland series, published by Orenda Books, has been optioned for TV by On the Corner, the UK production company responsible for the Academy Award-winning documentary Amy. That’s a pretty big deal, from a company known for quality work and involving one of the genre’s best-loved writers. Here are the details…

Jónasson’s series, currently comprises five books – including Snowblind and Nightblind, with Blackout to follow this July – features Icelandic police officer Ari Thor, who is based in the northernmost town in Iceland, Siglufjörður.

Rights to the series have been sold in 10 countries to date.

Jónasson said: “I am thrilled that we have finalised this deal with On the Corner. They have set out very ambitious plans to bring my books to the screen and I am confident that my characters and stories are in very capable hands.”

Joylon Symonds, from On The Corner, explained in an interview with Icelandic TV that he expects the project to go into production next year, and that the adaptations will likely by filmed in the English language, citing both Fortitude and the BBC’s version of Wallander as inspiration, as well as the success of Trapped in the UK.